Read More

Injuries and the presence of George Ford had restricted starts in his first two seasons with Bath and, under the old three wildcards system, he felt it highly unlikely he would be picked ahead of fellow exiles Taulupe Faletau, George North and Jamie Roberts.

Rhys Priestland has his slide towards the line stopped by Leigh Halfpenny (Image: Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Priestland, 30, said Gatland hadn’t been in touch in recent weeks.

“I’m not going to be waiting by my phone,” he added. “I’m not going to build my hopes up.

“It’s out of my control. I’m going to look at Gloucester (Bath’s next opponents) and work out a plan which best suits us in terms of getting that victory next weekend.”

Bath’s director of rugby Todd Blackadder was honest when he was asked whether he thought he would lose Priestland to the autumn internationals.